Theros block

Theros block

 

Preconstructed theme decks

 

Trivia

 

The Theros block consists of the large expansion Theros (), and the two small expansions Born of the Gods (), and Journey into Nyx (). It is the twentieth block in Magic: The Gathering history. The block was released over 2013–2014.

Block details

Theros block features a top-down design inspired by Greek mythology. Mechanically it is also very much about tapping into the potential of enchantments.

Sets

Development codenames

The development codenames for the Theros block expansions were "Friends", "Romans", and "Countrymen".

Themes and mechanics

The Theros block had an "enchantments matter" theme and introduced enchantment creatures and enchantment artifacts. Each set featured a part of the pantheon of Gods. The keywords bestow, heroic, scry, monstrosity, inspired, and devotion were featured in two or three of the sets.

Mega cycles

The Theros block has two mega cycles: the Temples and the Pantheon of Gods.

Cycle name
Pantheon of Gods	Heliod, God of the Sun (Theros)	Thassa, God of the Sea (Theros)	Erebos, God of the Dead (Theros)	Purphoros, God of the Forge (Theros)	Nylea, God of the Hunt (Theros)
	Each color received a Legendary Enchantment Creature with the type God in Theros. All of these cards are indestructible, have a triggered or static ability, and cease to be creatures unless your devotion to the appropriate colors is high enough. Also, each has an activated ability designating them as major gods.

Cycle name
Pantheon of Gods	Ephara, God of the Polis (Born of the Gods)	Phenax, God of Deception (Born of the Gods)	Mogis, God of Slaughter (Born of the Gods)	Xenagos, God of Revels (Born of the Gods)	Karametra, God of Harvests (Born of the Gods)	Athreos, God of Passage (Journey into Nyx)	Keranos, God of Storms (Journey into Nyx)	Pharika, God of Affliction (Journey into Nyx)	Iroas, God of Victory (Journey into Nyx)	Kruphix, God of Horizons (Journey into Nyx)
	Each color pair received a legendary enchantment creature with the type God in Born of the Gods. All of these cards are indestructible, have a triggered or static ability, and cease to be creatures unless your devotion to the appropriate colors is high enough. These are minor gods.
Temples	Temple of Enlightenment (Born of the Gods)	Temple of Deceit (Theros)	Temple of Malice (Born of the Gods)	Temple of Abandon (Theros)	Temple of Plenty (Born of the Gods)	Temple of Silence (Theros)	Temple of Epiphany (Journey into Nyx)	Temple of Malady (Journey into Nyx)	Temple of Triumph (Theros)	Temple of Mystery (Theros)
	Each of these rare taplands can tap for two different colors of mana and upon entering, allow you to scry 1. The odd distribution was to mirror the distribution from Return to Ravnica block: the Temples that matched the Gatecrash guilds came first, then the three allied-colored Return to Ravnica guilds in Born of the Gods, then the two enemy colored guilds in Journey into Nyx.

There is a mirrored pair spanning two sets in Returned Centaur and Forsaken Drifters. Both are Zombie cards for that mill for four cards. However, Returned Centaur does this when he enters the battlefield and can force an opponent to do so, while Forsaken Drifters do it when they die and it will always be its controller who mills. Also, Forsaken Drifters is 4/2 while the Returned Centaur is 2/4.